Shaq's back: Davidson's return to QB sparks Gaffney

Friday

Sep 27, 2013 at 12:01 AMSep 28, 2013 at 1:07 AM

The Indians edged Dorman, 37-34, as their star senior played under center for the first time since leading the team to a state title last season. Hyleck Foster added three rushing TDs, including the game-winner.

By ERIC BOYNTONeric.boynton@shj.com

Dorman’s decision not to gamble needing 1 yard to close out Gaffney on Friday resulted in one final fling for the Indians’ magic man — and Shaq Davidson proved he’s still got the touch.Davidson played quarterback for the first time this season and orchestrated a rapid-fire 76-yard drive with less than 3 minutes remaining for a comeback 37-34 road victory in a Region II-4A matchup.The senior took over a struggling Gaffney squad last year and went undefeated the second half of the season en route to a state championship. The Indians (3-2, 1-0) entered Friday at 2-2 before defeating the Cavaliers (4-2, 1-1) for the fourth consecutive time.Having Davidson back at quarterback “feels like 100 pounds just fell off of me,” Gaffney tailback Hyleck Foster said. “Just so much pressure off now with Shaq back there because you can’t just key on me, you have to key on Shaq also and it’s like a two-headed dragon.“But no matter who is in there we’re a team that’s going to fight until the end and never let up. Last year people doubted us at the same time in the season, so we’ve done been here before.”Dorman faced fourth-and-1 from its own 49 while leading 34-30 with 2:50 remaining. Gaffney had burned all its timeouts, and outside of a pair of long touchdown throws on consecutive plays earlier in the half, had mostly done its damage on the ground.Dorman coach David Gutshall opted to punt and Gaffney’s last chance began at its own 24 with 2:44 left. The Indians quickly faced fourth-and-11 when Davidson connected with Jordan Destaffino for 15 yards. Davidson then found Greg Ellis for 19 yards, Dylan Stepp twice, for 13 and 14 yards, and then a 14-yarder to former quarterback Eddie Studyvance to Dorman’s 2 with 46 seconds left.Foster then stepped up from the shotgun formation to take the snap under center to burrow his way in for the game-winner. The Cavaliers ended the game with four incompletions to turn it over with a second to go.“In hindsight obviously I would’ve tried to go on that fourth-and-one,” Gutshall said. “We debated it, but you could leave the ball (for Gaffney) at midfield, but it’s also 1 yard away from victory, too. That’s always an easy decision after the fact.“They hadn’t executed their (passing) offense very well except for the two bombs (Ellis caught touchdowns of 80 and 71 yards early in the third quarter) and one of them looked like it bounced. They really had struggled in the second half to do it and we felt like they had to throw it down the field and didn’t feel like that was their strength. You’ve got to give them credit, they made the plays. We had our opportunities and just didn’t do it.”Gaffney coach Dan Jones said, “When they decided to punt I thought it was a good call. They were on their side of the field and Dorman’s strength is their defense, so they put it back in their hands and we were fortunate in being able to make a few plays.”Davidson completed his final five passes to finish 10 of 15 for 278 yards and the two long touchdowns to Ellis, which came on consecutive plays from the line of scrimmage. Davidson ran 21 times for 95 yards. Foster rushed 31 times for 158 yards and three touchdowns and Ellis caught four passes for 171 yards and the two scores.“Honestly I was very surprised when they punted,” Davidson said. “But I really don’t blame them because I wouldn’t expect no team to drive that far in about two minutes because they’d shut us down a couple of drives. It was like they were playing the screen and deep pass and coach (Jones) called curl routes and shorter routes to keep the chains moving.”Dorman tailback Shondrell Keenan rushed 17 times for 158 yards and three touchdowns and Grayland Fowler was 18 of 33 for 203 yards and a touchdown to J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, who was mostly held in check with five catches for 56 yards.

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